Douglas and Jefferson county commissioners are eyeing a $4 million project to replace the roadway of the Lecompton Bridge over the Kansas River.

“The structure is in good condition,” Douglas County engineer Keith Browning said. “But the deck needs to be removed. It’s been a concern for quite a few years.”

Constructed in 1970, the bridge carries about 4,100 vehicles a day, including school buses. The bridge doesn’t have a posted weight limit, but the roadway north of the bridge in Jefferson County has a load limit of 15 tons.

Commissioners agreed Monday in a joint meeting in Oskaloosa that the deck should be replaced, which likely will happen in 2007. They also plan to divide the cost of the project based on property valuations. Of the estimated cost of $4 million, Douglas County’s share would be about $3.54 million. Jefferson County would pay about $465,000.

But the discussion left commissioners with questions, the main one being whether the bridge should remain open to traffic during construction.

Commissioners seemed to favor the idea of closing the bridge completely. Doing so could keep the project’s length to about four months, and would cut the estimated $4 million cost by about $600,000 to $700,000.

Douglas and Jefferson County commissioners are considering closing the Lecompton Bridge, pictured above, for four months for repairs, probably in 2007. Lecompton and Perry residents could face long detours; they would be forced to go either to Topeka or Lawrence to cross the Kansas River.

“It also will be a better surface,” said Jefferson County Commissioner Francis Grollmes.

One lane of the bridge could remain open during construction, but that would stretch the project to about nine months. The bridge also would be closed to tractor-trailers.

Closing the bridge completely would mean long detours for school buses in the Perry-Lecompton school district and residents in Perry, Lecompton and other nearby communities. Commissioners from both counties said they intended to meet with residents and school district patrons about the matter.

Trips between Lecompton and Perry could involve driving up to 30 miles to cross the river at Topeka or Lawrence. The trip currently is about three miles with the use of the Lecompton Bridge.

Jefferson and Douglas county officials informed school district and city officials Monday about the potential closure of the bridge.

“Obviously, if you just look in terms of the school district, closing the bridge is not the best option,” said Steve Johnston, superintendent of the Perry-Lecompton district. “People would be inconvenienced. But I understand wanting to avoid the higher price tag.”

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County officials said they would like to see the project happen during summer while school is out of session. The school district will be researching the issue and contributing information to the Douglas and Jefferson county commissions, Johnston said.

Bill James, who owns Bill’s IGA in Perry, said closing the bridge would be bad for his business.

“We get excellent business from Lecompton,” James said. “It’s steady, and they’re good folks.”

Bill’s IGA is one of the few grocery stores in the area. If the bridge were closed, Lecompton residents likely would pick up groceries in Lawrence or Topeka, he said.